Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-05-04


versation, and paying attention to what
everyone was saying.
81 would do it in another room if you
would let me CO." he said; "but as you
will not exile me-you are too good
shall be free and at your service IN one
half hour"
Mr.. Marsh carried on the talk about
stories from the point where his daugh-
ter had left it.
"Ah!" said that merry little man, the
kindly host, ''my Robin is not what
was long ago. l set beans to grow Il
stalk like the famous Jack; and even
now, if l will read a story / like to be-
lieve it. Once in the six months, may
be, get hold of one worth reading, and
then all the men and women have met
in il live for evermOre. What's the
good of story that fellow feels is a
hoax and a yarn? Now, there's that
book that every one is talking of,
'Brightley Court that girl Ruth Moss
is somewhere in the world; she is living
like violet in wood, and the air is
better for her presence-happier-
that's all one knows. Let US love much
because life is short; let us do much
|
alive for me now almost as much as
Nelly there and my Mary. She marries
no one in the novel; why, there isn't a
fellow L ever met fit TO put his hand
under her foot to send her up to the
saddle. beg your pardon, Harry, but
you won't mind. don't think you are
good enough for Ruth either.''
"All right, sir! Shan't break nv
heart for that" said Sir Harry. ''I'd
rather have real live gill than a
dream, though that is very true char
acter-very real-yeryi In fact Ruth
Moss reminded me of somebody l have
met. Have You read 'Brightley Court
mantle.
"Ah! you should read thatl'' cried
both the men in duet-Mary'S father
and Sir Harry Give.
''Who is it by?" said The voice of NJ.
Gobblecock.
"Hyacnth Grey"
Mr.. Gobblecock with grunt, return
ed to his papers.
"A lady, l should think" said the
young baronet.
''Ahi Pm sure of it. Who else could
have told us about Ruth's dresses and
the color of her hair? Yet there's an
amazing amount of knowledge of horses
in that book, and of barrack life," said
Mr.. Marsh, ''and Hyacinth Grey had
one novel about London city life, and
another about yachting"
The voice of Gobblecock interrupted.
sin nv time at school IIyacinthuS was
a Greek boy, but these ladies that write
novels don't trouble their heads about
classical accuracy"
Soon he wrote a long letter, sent it TO
the post, folded his newspapers into the
black bag, and came with a thousand
more apologies, and made up for his
absence by talking with the yolubIlity
of 4 dozen. His stories made everybody
lau- h; his gentlenesS with the girls
made up for his good looks; his talk of
foreign cities made them wonder how
las our friends bey'-' the channel
would say) he was most at home when
he was abroad. In a word Gobblecock
was pleasant man, good company
success. Even Hubert came back,
heart-aches and all, and joined the cir
Gle. And then the candles CLEANED
round the drawing-room, and Nelly
looked her prettiest, and Mary Marsh
was her sweetest, and Robin was his
noisiest. Harry Give was pleased with
himself and all the world; Hubert was
only heard once overheard by Nelly TO
murmur to his sister that he wished
Harry was "'far enough;" Mr.. Marsh
made happy paterfamilias, and felt
like boy again when he detected Harry
Give waiting on Nelly, and poor HUI
bert getting angry. In short it was
pleasant family circle, and GObblccock
had become favorite with everybody,
except little Robin, whose mind had
been disturbed about Bluebeard.
At Darkleigh Court the ladies had
always an hour TO themselves, while the
men finished the late evening in the
smoking-room or at the billiard-table.
Tonight Nelly took up the book that
was the talk of the season, and read
few chapters while Mary worked.
Presently Mr.. Marsh came in. $50
glad YOU are reading that, Nelly! 1t IS
beauty and poetry from cover to cover,
no matter what it talks about-the
hunting field, or the camp, or the bar
backyard, or anything"
Mary did not look up from her work,
but she said gently" Hyacinth Grey's
books are all delightful. He must be
man with noble mind"
Mr.. Marsh paced up and down the
room thinking; his thoughts had darted
off to a subject nearer his heart.
Il wonder what that boy of mine has
on his mind?" he said. HE stumps |
about over my head, up and down, up |
and down, till and in the morning. |
[ wish YOU would find out what IS
troubling him, Mary. Poor Hubert. 1t |
worries me to think he has some trouble |
and won't tell me. Find out, if you |
can"
ssHe has little sitting-room too in
the west tower, has not he?" Nelly |
asked, when Mr.. Marsh was gone. !
''The light is burning there till l every |
night. l have looked out and seen the
bright window, and wondered"
The light burned in the upper window |
of the west tower that night till the |
clock struck l. Afterwards HuberS
walked up and down in the room over
his fathers till half-past.
lie must have some great trouble on
his mind" thought Nelly, peeping from
under the corner of her window-Dilnd |
and seeing the lonely light.
'sHe is like the Polar bear In the ZOO
logical gardens!'' thought his sleepleSs
father, listening to the footsteps for half
the night.
On the next evening Hubert had car
ried off ''Brightley Court" to that snug
little sitting-room of his in the tower,
Mary Marsh asked Nelly to run up for
it. as her brother, and her father, and
the great Mr.. Gobblecock were all Tar
away at billiards.
Nelly. in Hubert's own dominions,
DELAYED to look around her before she
took the open volume from the table.
All at once footsteps, and Hubert's
voice, and the voice of the dread GoD-
blecock were close outside the door.
Seized by silly fear Of being found,
she thought of Argentina in the last
romance; and, resolved to be heroine
for once in her life, she did just what
she should not have done, she stepped